Creating a character is like taking a piece of your soul, covering it with a skeleton of words, and then adding the finishing touches. It is a delicate process, and should be approached with the right “writing” recipe! Below is an easy-to-use acronym to help you take those first character-building steps:
C = Create from Memory. You should only make a character from your own experiences. Do not create a character from another culture or with a different gender UNLESS you have done your homework. Always ask for opinions (especially from friends or contacts who would best understand your character’s culture and background). Be prepared and do your homework first. Your character will be well-rounded as a result of your attention to detail.
H = Have Fun! Don’t be limited. Think beyond the traditional Jane Doe and John Smith! Your readers like the tiny details. Give your character quirks and habits that will connect to the reader. Make your character sing in the middle of a busy street or fastidiously wipe the bottom of their shoe each and every day.
A= Actions Speak Louder. There are only so many descriptive sentences your reader will be able to handle. After awhile, action is necessary. Do not write, “Jane’s face showed she was determined to cross the finish line first.” Instead, you should write, “Sweat beaded across Jane’s forehead with each powerful thrust towards the finish line.” The time honored writing rule is to show the reader instead of telling the reader.
R= Round Up Those Descriptions! After awhile, the forgetful author syndrome sets in. Did you write blue eyes or green eyes with a hint of blue? Was it blonde hair or did the character have red highlights? To avoid having this sudden memory block, every time you write a description, copy and paste that description into a compiled list. It will save you time and energy to store all the descriptions in one location. You can do this with a separate Word document, an Excel Spreadsheet, or even with index cards.
A=Always Remind. There is also the forgetful reader syndrome. On occasion, take a second to remind the reader what the character looks like. After several chapters, the reader might start forgetting the physical details. Small hints (i.e. concern flickered in her green eyes as the corset strings were harshly tightened around her slender waist) will keep your reader on track.
C=Constantly develop. The transition from flower girl to socialite does not happen overnight (just check out My Fair Lady for proof positive!). Slowly introduce new lessons and habits into the character’s life to create a realistic change of direction. This continual deepening of your character will draw your reader’s attention.
T=Time to Try on Shoes! Put yourself in your characters place, or better yet, their shoes. What would you do in the situation? How would you react? Would you cry or laugh? One book I read (and I won’t reveal which one!) made the fatal error of neglecting to describe the appropriate human reaction. The grandmother dies (I guess the author was tired of the character), and breakfast is immediately served to the hungry family the very same morning that the grandmother passed away. There was no grief, just a really good description of the pancakes. Make sure you are writing realistically. Characters should be multi-layered. They should possess emotions and feelings!
E=Efficiently Create Character Sketches. Sometimes, you may need to quickly pull a character out of your hat. By keeping a sketch book filled with descriptions of interesting people you know or have met, you can pick one out at random in order to fill the gap in your story line. If your tour guide from your last vacation happened to be 6’3” with wild white hair, black bushy eyebrows, and a golden front tooth, you should record the information. It will save you time later when you need to construct a character that stands out.
R=Reach out to Your Readers. Place your character in situations your reader will identify with. Have your character stumble at times. No one is perfect, so don’t make life perfect for your character either.
Now, you only have to add love and time to the recipe for C.H.A.R.A.C.T.E.R. building. With the right cast of characters, your story will blossom and readers will be unable to put the book down.
